an expat and entrepreneur who runs her VirtualMob.co.uk
business from the city. Arriving in the suburb of Dietikon
(
pronounced deet-i-con), I was delighted to find that the
living room was larger than my whole flat.
Next, it was time for lunch. Living locally is a great
way to save money in a place like Zürich, as cooking at
home costs a fraction of eating out. But what to make?
The internet provided me with a recipe for rösti, a typical
Swiss dish made with grated potato. After 40 minutes, it
admittedly looked a bit rough and ready, but – sprinkled
with oozy Emmental, and served with a fried egg and thick
slices of tomato –proved to be quite the homemade banquet.
After food comes the first real task: to get out there and
hopefully meet my first locals. This proves easier than I’d
feared, thanks to web-based social enabler Meetup.com.
Every city has its own rhythm, and tapping into it is often
the greatest obstacle for an outsider. However, this website
allows people to see what activities total strangers get up to
in any given city and join in. A quick glance at the site lists
a dazzling array of groups meeting tonight in Zürich. Yoga,
drama, hiking, ice skating, drinks and language classes are
all open to anyone who wants to join. I need a real workout
after all that cheese, so running club The Zürich Hash House
Harriers – a “Home for the social, not-so-serious fitness
fanatic!” – sounds just the ticket.
Which is how I have ended up in a cold wood, my hot
breath steaming into the pine-scented air in the company of
a group of ‘Hashers’, who plot different runs around the city
twice a week. Trails in flour or chalk are set by a ‘hare’, and
followed by ‘hounds’ of a dozen nationalities – including, to
my delight, my first three Swiss people.
After an 8km run, and over some much-needed beer at
a suburban Mexican restaurant, I take the opportunity to
collar these locals and learn my first lesson: the Swiss love
rules. “Never cross the road against the lights,” warns one.
“
Always kiss three times in greeting!” says another, as she
sees me go in for a French two-kiss greeting. “You should
have boiled the potatoes the day before,” remarks the third,
as I shamelessly boast about my prowess at Swiss cuisine.
Clearly not getting my local credentials yet then.
Following a delightful night’s sleep in my adopted home
and a bowl of
waldfrucht
(
fruits of the forest) museli, I’m off
into Zürich proper. Debbie’s top tip is to head for Zürich-
»
Fig 3
Get out and enjoy
the great outdoors
Every city has its own
rhythm, and tapping into
it is often the greatest
obstacle for an outsider
T H E C H A L L E N G E
Z U R I C H
A. Woods
B. You
C. Bear (possibly imagined)
0 5 5
